TSP Calculator
Project your Thrift Savings Plan balance at retirement, including the agency automatic 1% and matching contributions for FERS and BRS members, the annual contribution limit and catch-up rules, and the match you would miss by contributing less than 5%. Looking for a loan instead? Use the TSP loan calculator.
Maintained by Archie Chang · TSP rules checked against tsp.gov October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources
This is a projection, not an official TSP value. It is an estimate built on the assumptions you enter. TSP is the authority for your account, your contribution elections and the rules; check tsp.gov or My Account. The 2027 limits are computed from the statute, not yet confirmed by the IRS. They update when the official 2027 limits are announced.
TSP growth calculator
Projection, not an official TSP value. Results depend on the return and salary assumptions you enter. The projection starts in January 2027, so enter the balance you expect to have then (today's balance is a conservative stand-in).
Presets are past average annual returns published on tsp.gov, not forecasts. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Projected balance at age 62
$846,523
Traditional $846,523 and Roth $0, in future dollars (not adjusted for inflation). Your starting balance is treated as traditional except the Roth amount you enter, and agency money is always traditional.
- Starting balance
- $100,000
- Your contributions
- $125,302
- Agency contributions (1% plus match)
- $125,302
- Investment growth
- $495,919
4% withdrawal illustration
4% of the projected balance is about $33,861 a year, or $2,822 a month, before taxes. This is a rule of thumb for illustration only, not a TSP withdrawal option or advice.
Limits: 2026 official elective deferral limit $24,500, catch-up $8,000 at 50 and older ($11,250 at 60 to 63). The 2027 limits are computed from the statute, not yet confirmed by the IRS. They update when the official 2027 limits are announced. Limits are held flat after 2027.
Assumes 26 paychecks a year, contributions at mid-year, agency contributions fully vested, and 1% automatic contributions from the first year. BRS agency contributions end at 26 years of service (5 U.S.C. 8440e). Annual additions and compensation limits are not modeled. Returns below -99% are treated as -99%.
| Year | Age | Pay | You | Agency 1% | Agency match | End balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 41 | $91,800 | $4,590 | $918 | $3,672 | $115,451 |
| 2028 | 42 | $93,636 | $4,682 | $936 | $3,745 | $132,019 |
| 2029 | 43 | $95,509 | $4,775 | $955 | $3,820 | $149,773 |
| 2030 | 44 | $97,419 | $4,871 | $974 | $3,897 | $168,790 |
| 2031 | 45 | $99,367 | $4,968 | $994 | $3,975 | $189,147 |
| 2032 | 46 | $101,355 | $5,068 | $1,014 | $4,054 | $210,931 |
| 2033 | 47 | $103,382 | $5,169 | $1,034 | $4,135 | $234,231 |
| 2034 | 48 | $105,449 | $5,272 | $1,054 | $4,218 | $259,142 |
| 2035 | 49 | $107,558 | $5,378 | $1,076 | $4,302 | $285,764 |
| 2036 | 50 | $109,709 | $5,485 | $1,097 | $4,388 | $314,205 |
| 2037 | 51 | $111,904 | $5,595 | $1,119 | $4,476 | $344,578 |
| 2038 | 52 | $114,142 | $5,707 | $1,141 | $4,566 | $377,005 |
| 2039 | 53 | $116,425 | $5,821 | $1,164 | $4,657 | $411,612 |
| 2040 | 54 | $118,753 | $5,938 | $1,188 | $4,750 | $448,535 |
| 2041 | 55 | $121,128 | $6,056 | $1,211 | $4,845 | $487,918 |
| 2042 | 56 | $123,551 | $6,178 | $1,236 | $4,942 | $529,913 |
| 2043 | 57 | $126,022 | $6,301 | $1,260 | $5,041 | $574,683 |
| 2044 | 58 | $128,542 | $6,427 | $1,285 | $5,142 | $622,398 |
| 2045 | 59 | $131,113 | $6,556 | $1,311 | $5,245 | $673,241 |
| 2046 | 60 | $133,735 | $6,687 | $1,337 | $5,349 | $727,404 |
| 2047 | 61 | $136,410 | $6,820 | $1,364 | $5,456 | $785,092 |
| 2048 | 62 | $139,138 | $6,957 | $1,391 | $5,566 | $846,523 |
How the TSP agency match works
FERS and BRS participants receive an automatic 1% of basic pay. On top of that the agency matches the first 3% you contribute dollar for dollar and the next 2% at 50 cents on the dollar. Contributing 5% of pay is the way to get the full 5% from your agency. CSRS participants get no agency contributions. BRS matching starts after two years of service for those who began on or after January 1, 2018.
| You contribute | Automatic 1% | Agency match | Total going in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
| 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| 2% | 1% | 2% | 5% |
| 3% | 1% | 3% | 7% |
| 4% | 1% | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| 5% | 1% | 4% | 10% |
Matching is figured each paycheck on what you contribute that pay period. If you reach the annual limit early in the year and your contributions stop, the match stops too. Source: tsp.gov, What is a contribution?
TSP contribution limits used in the projection
| Limit | 2026 (official) | 2027 (not official) |
|---|---|---|
| Elective deferral limit | $24,500 | $25,500 (computed) |
| Catch-up, age 50 and older | $8,000 | $8,500 (computed) |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 | $11,250 | $11,750 (computed) |
The 2027 limits are computed from the statute, not yet confirmed by the IRS. They update when the official 2027 limits are announced. Since 2026, if your prior-year wages were above the IRS threshold, catch-up contributions must be Roth. The limit counts your own traditional and Roth contributions together, not agency contributions. See 401(k) contribution limits 2027 for how the 2027 figures are computed.
TSP fund returns for choosing an assumption
Average annual returns published by TSP as of September 2026, copied from tsp.gov. They describe the past and are not a forecast; the calculator presets use the 10-year column.
| Fund | Year to date | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Fund (S&P 500 index) | 12.73% | 15.72% | 22.85% | 13.76% | 15.30% | 11.45% |
| S Fund (small and mid-size U.S. companies) | 11.62% | 11.82% | 18.73% | 6.23% | 11.19% | 9.60% |
| I Fund (international stocks) | 16.45% | 23.06% | 21.20% | 10.96% | 10.06% | 6.46% |
| F Fund (U.S. bonds) | -2.75% | -1.77% | 4.07% | -0.57% | 1.23% | 5.12% |
| G Fund (government securities) | 3.41% | 4.51% | 4.50% | 3.97% | 2.97% | 4.64% |
How this TSP calculator works
Each year from 2027 your pay rises by the growth rate you enter. Your contributions are your percentage of pay, taken each paycheck (26 a year) and stopped once they reach the annual limit for your age, including the age 50 catch-up and the higher catch-up at ages 60 to 63; the agency match is figured on each paycheck too. Investment growth compounds once a year on the opening balance, and the year’s contributions are treated as arriving mid-year, which slightly understates growth when the limit is reached early in the year.
For BRS members, agency automatic and matching contributions end when you complete 26 years of service (5 U.S.C. 8440e). Enter your completed years of service at the start of 2027. Limits after 2027 are held flat in this projection. If real limits rise, high savers would contribute more and miss less, so the missed match shown for later years can be overstated.
The projection stops at the end of the year you reach your retirement age and shows future dollars, not adjusted for inflation. It does not include your FERS pension or Social Security; see the FERS retirement calculator and the FERS COLA 2027 page for those. It also ignores taxes, TSP fees, vesting, the annual additions limit and loans.
TSP calculator questions
How does the TSP agency match work?
If you are covered by FERS or the Blended Retirement System (BRS), your agency or service puts in an automatic 1% of basic pay whether or not you contribute. It also matches the first 3% you contribute dollar for dollar and the next 2% at 50 cents on the dollar, so contributing 5% brings in 4% of pay in matching, 5% in total with the automatic 1%. Contributing 2% earns 2% in match, 4% earns 3.5%. CSRS and non-BRS uniformed services participants get no agency contributions. BRS members who began service on or after January 1, 2018 start receiving the match after two years of service.
What is the TSP contribution limit?
For 2026 the official elective deferral limit is $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up at 50 and older, or $11,250 at ages 60 to 63. The IRS has not announced 2027 limits. Computed from the statute, not yet confirmed by the IRS, the 2027 limit should be $25,500, with a $8,500 catch-up ($11,750 at ages 60 to 63). Agency contributions do not count toward the elective deferral limit.
How much will my TSP be worth at retirement?
Nobody can say exactly. This calculator is an assumption-based projection, not an official TSP value: it grows your balance at the annual return you enter, adds your contributions and the agency contributions that follow the TSP rules, and raises your salary each year by the growth rate you enter. Real returns vary year to year and can be negative. Use a range of returns rather than a single number.
What annual return should I assume?
The presets show the average annual returns published on tsp.gov as of September 2026. They are past results, not forecasts, and for the C, S and I Funds the 10-year figures are above the since-inception average shown in the table, so they may be optimistic for the future. Many planners use a lower, blended figure for a diversified mix. Try several values and see how much the answer changes.
Does the match apply to catch-up contributions?
Yes, TSP says catch-up contributions can qualify for the agency or service match, up to 5% of your salary. The match is figured paycheck by paycheck on what you contribute that pay period, so if you reach the annual limit before the end of the year your contributions, and the match, stop for the rest of the year. BRS participants can still make catch-up contributions after reaching the annual additions limit, but they are not matched.
Are catch-up contributions Roth for high earners?
Starting January 1, 2026, if your prior-year wages were above the IRS threshold ($150,000 for 2025 wages), your catch-up contributions must be Roth. The calculator applies the same rule to later years using the computed, not yet official, $155,000 threshold for 2026 wages and keeps it flat afterward. Your payroll office decides which wages count.
What is the 4% withdrawal illustration?
It multiplies your projected balance by 4% to show a rough first-year withdrawal. It is a rule of thumb for illustration only, not a TSP withdrawal option, a safe withdrawal guarantee or tax advice. Withdrawals from traditional money are taxable income, and TSP offers installment, annuity and other withdrawal choices with their own rules.
Does the calculator include my pension or Social Security?
No. It only projects the TSP. For the FERS pension and Social Security, use the FERS retirement calculator and the Social Security tools on this site, then add the results.
Important Disclaimer
NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE
The calculators and information on this site are for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Calculator results are estimates and actual terms may vary. Always consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
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Authoritative sources: tsp.gov: What is a contribution? · tsp.gov: Contribution limits · tsp.gov: Rates of return · tsp.gov: Calculators